High School, Here I Come!

High School, Here I Come! Transitioning from 8th Grade to High School Brad Craycroft, Asst. Principal of Guidance Brenda Stone, Academic Counselor

The World of High School • Bigger • More teachers, students and classes • Tons of options • Class choices, clubs, sports and more • Adult responsibilities • Their decisions affect their future • High School Diploma!!! • More jobs, money & options (like college)

Options: Academic Programs • Advanced Placement (AP) • college-level courses and exams that can potentially earn a student college credit • Speech & Debate (consistently ranked of the best teams in the country) • Students of all levels compete in interpretive, improvisational, creative and debate based events • Project Lead the Way • Hands on, project based engineering courses • On campus community college courses • Japanese, Sign Language, Differential Equations

Course Catalog • www.sjusd.org/pdf/student/hs_english.pdf

Options: Extra Curriculars • Robotics • Student run organization devoted to promoting science and technology http://www.604robotics.com/ • Athletics • http://www.sjusd.org/leland/athletics.html • Clubs • http://www.sjusd.org/leland/clublist.pdf

Options: Services • Homework Center • Monday-Thursday after school in the ITC • Peer Tutoring • Apply on Tues & Thurs in Room K-10 • College & Career Center • Resources and guidance on colleges and careers • Academic Counselor • Provide academic counseling to students anytime and by appointment to parents • Almaden Valley Counseling Services • Provide service to students in need of social emotional support

Discussion • Besides yourself and your family, what other people and things influence your child? • How do you think you can positively affect the influences outside your home? • How can you protect your child from outside negative influences? • What are some important things you can do to keep the lines of communication open with your child during this period of transition and beyond?

Break-out Groups • Select one person to take notes. • Select another person to read the questions one at a time. • Take turns discussing your thoughts. • Brainstorm ideas and possible ways to answer the question

Teachers call home about poor grades or behavior Teachers take late work all semester Teachers help with organization Lots of reminders Teachers expect students to be responsible for their own grades Teachers rarely accept late work Teachers do not tell students how to be organized Middle School - vs - High School

Biggest Difference: Graduation Requirements!!!

Myth: 9th grade doesn’t count • Students must pass all 9th grade classes to earn enough credits to graduate on time • Every class prepares students for the next and classes fulfill the a-g requirements* • *Required classes for a four year college or university • How well a student does in 9th grade will directly affect their course sequence

To earn a high school diploma from SJUSD, a student MUST… • Complete 240 credits • Pass the CAHSEE (both parts) • California High School Exit Exam • Complete First Aid, Drivers Education and an Algebra and Health Certificate • Complete 40 community service hours

Graduate: Pass the CAHSEE • Must pass this test to earn a diploma! • Two parts: English & Math • Multiple choice & two essays • Take it in March of 10th grade • Get six chances to pass • Support classes available

Do the ‘240 Credits’ Math… What does it all mean? • 5 credits per semester class (x) • 6 classes a semester (=) • 30 credits a semester (x) • 2 semesters a year (=) • 60 credits a year (x) • 4 years of high school (=) • 240 total credits needed to graduate

English 4 years Math(at least Algebra 2) 3 years Science 3 years(2 lab) Social Science (a.k.a. social studies) 3 years Physical Education 2 years Language Other Than English 2 years Visual/Perform Art 2 years Electives 5 years Graduate: Complete 240 Creditspass all of the following (a-g) classes with a D or better (C or better if student wants to be eligible for a 4 year university)

If you fail a class… • You must retake that class in order to earn enough credits to graduate on time! • Summer school, 0 or 7th period, if available • Community College • Online classes Note: Students do not retake a class during the regular school day. They take care of it on THEIR time.

Understanding Different Courses • College Prep • The majority of academic courses at Leland are college prep and are accepted by 4 year universities. • Accelerated • These courses are more accelerated than college prep and prepare students for even more rigorous courses. • Honors • These courses are more accelerated than college prep and will often give students an extra GPA point, i.e. a 3.0 a B becomes a 4.0 an A. • Advanced Placement (AP) • AP courses are more accelerated than college prep and they give students an extra GPA point and possibly college credit.

Understanding the Impact of Grades • If you were to look at your student’s middle school transcript . . . • Count the number of ‘F’ grades • If they were in high school, that is the number of classes they would have to retake in order to graduate • Count the number of ‘D’ grades • That is the number they would have to retake if they wanted to go to a four year college immediately after high school

If your student falls behind in high school, meet with the counselor immediately Other options for graduation are available

California Standards Test (CST) CST measures what a student learned all year CST scores impact student course sequence Can show if student is ready to pass the CAHSEE

In Order for Students To Be Prepared For High School They Must . . . • Be responsible • Get involved • Ask for help • Give themselves enough time for homework • Set a goal for after high school

High School Graduationthe First Step for Success

College After High School • C or better grades, aim for As & Bs • Take challenging courses • Honors, AP, community college classes • Extra year math, science, world language • Study for SAT/ACT college exams • Meet with counselor by 10th grade

Questions?

Brenda Stone Academic Counselor Brenda_Stone@sjusd.org 408-535-6290

High School, Here I Come!